Sweetfern, Comptonia peregrina, is neither sweet nor a fern, but is one of my favorite plants. It looks like something the dinosaurs would have walked through, and smells like all the warmest, spiciest, most magical aromas of imagination.

Thursday, August 1, 2019

thankful thursday

Well, here it is August.
My, my, my.

What does that remind me of?

I know! It's another #drawingAugust!

A jar of corks without the jar, 2014

I couldn't remember when I first joined this informal twitterfest of shared artwork...

was it three years ago? four?...so I searched my own blog. (Very handy.)

It was 2014. Yikes! This will be my 6th year.

This post describes what Drawing August is about: fun and sharing and encouraging others and possibly even making artsy friends from around the world. Back in 2014 there was an actual sign-up list of participants. Each year the number has grown, and now a few people post reminders that August is coming up, and then it's just "try to do a drawing each day, and post a picture with the hashtag so everyone can see them all." In other words, an informal international event has become even more informal as it has grown larger - how often does that happen?

by the millstream with Piper, 2015

Each year I have had Very Good Company on my outdoor sketching adventures.

at the pond with Piper, 2016 (in progress)

I hope the heat, humidity, and biting bugs will lighten up

so Piper and I can head out to the woods this month.

At the pond with Piper, 2016

For four years, my number of August drawings varied quite a bit.

I never made a full 31, and it didn't matter a bit.

It was still fun, and still interesting to see everyone else's work.

Missing the Sea, 2017

And then, January 2018 rolled around.

In a moment of optimism with no apparent foundation in reality,

I decided to attempt not one month of daily sketching,

but one year of daily markmaking.

Iris, 2018

And to my astonishment, I did it. And am still doing it. Today was day #578.

Here's a thing I'm going to say to anyone who feels even a tiny urge to do #drawingAugust 2019:

if you do 10 or 12 sketches in a month,

you are bound to to be pleased with at least a few of them.

Which is a lovely feeling!

Why not give it a go?

I never imagined that the time spent sketching something - anything - every day

would become a peaceful harbor for my mind and spirit.

But there it is.

Moxie, 2018

I sometimes wonder if I post too many daily markmakings here on the blog,

24 comments:

Why on earth would I get tired of seeing beautiful drawings and feeling that moment of peace when I'm looking at them (and feeling your moments of peace when making them)? I only wish you had a drawing post for each day! no pressure :)

Oh Lordy, I never get tired of your drawings. That one above, Missing the Sea, really calls me. The one you posted the other day of a vase of flowers, with the bergamot in it, loved that one too. Please keep them coming.

Nice artwork. Piper in any photo makes me smile. Its almost like she can talk. Outdoors...I'm surprised to see a notice on the news from the VT Governor Scott, to watch out for ticks. I didn't realize they are so small!

Thanks very much - I always appreciate your response to my sketches :) Yes, the deer tick "babies" are almost unbelievably tiny. I distinctly recall the first time I saw a deer tick. I was among a group of foresters staring at the tiny speck crawling up the hand of one.

Most definitely NOT getting tired of seeing your mark marking! I envy you your talent with drawing/painting so I enjoy seeing all that you share with us. Not something I'm going to attempt however - my stick-to-it-iveness isn't up to snuff so I know I'd fall down on the job in short order (to say nothing about the fact that my 'drawings' wouldn't be the least bit recognizable!).

First off, it's your blog and you can do whatever you want, no matter what others think. Secondly, the fact that you've continued to draw something, anything, every single day for 578 days is quite an accomplishment. We are all creative and artistic in our own ways. But sticking to a daily commitment isn't always easy. I seem to have real issues with any sort of schedule or routine. Just look at the infrequency of my blog posts even though I constantly tell myself I'm gonna be more dedicated. :) Nice to have your constant companion along for your drawing dates! :) Happy August!

Thanks, Tammy - I do subscribe to the "my blog, my house" philosophy, but I also wouldn't want to invite someone to my actual house and then make them look at *all* my sketches...they might not wish to visit again ;)

Interesting to see a timeline (of sorts) of your work. And I definitely don't think you post too many markmakings! It's your blog; it should reflect you! Posting it seems to help markmakers stay motivated. I visit another blog where she participates in "Scribble Picnics" and always posts her work. It makes an excellent record and it's fun to see the development. And I confess, your work tempts me to get out my own drawing book once again!

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